Life is good in The Steel City.
It will stay that way for at least another week as long as the Pittsburgh Steelers avoid a trip to Letdown City.
The Steelers start a run of three straight home games when they meet the hapless Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.
While the Bengals (2-10) have lost nine straight and don’t appear to be a threat to anyone but themselves, stranger things than Cincinnati winning Sunday have happened in the NFL.
The Steelers (9-3), who have won three straight, appear to have the best chance at gaining the No. 2 seed and a first-round bye in the AFC playoffs after their 13-10 road victory over the Baltimore Ravens last week.
They are one game ahead of Baltimore in the AFC North and one game behind New England in the conference. Tiebreaker scenarios are favorable against the Ravens, but the Patriots were the last team to beat the Steelers 39-26 in Week 10.
The New York Jets and Carolina come to Pittsburgh in weeks 15 and 16 before the Steelers finish the season at Cleveland.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger had surgery Monday on his broken nose and will play Sunday with a protective shield on his face. He was hit by the Ravens’ Haloti Ngata during the opening series of Pittsburgh’s 13-10 victory over Baltimore last week.
Tight end Heath Miller is doubtful to play Sunday after suffering a concussion. He took a blow to the head from Baltimore’s Jameel McClain in the third quarter and did not return.
Backup tight end Matt Spaeth (concussion) was cleared to practice Wednesday.
Also, Steelers right tackle Flozell Adams suffered a high ankle sprain and is unlikely to play Sunday.
Despite the injuries, Pittsburgh should have little trouble with the Bengals, whose rough season included a 27-21 loss the Steelers in Week 9. Pittsburgh scored off a fumble, an interception and blocked punt.
Cincinnati is 28th in the NFL in rushing at 92.3 yards per game and faces the No. 1 rush defense at 62.2 yards. The Steelers are also tied for the NFL lead in sacks with 36.
Their biggest one so far came Sunday, courtesy of safety Troy Polamalu, who also forced Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco to fumble. Three plays later, the Steelers scored their only touchdown with 2:51 remaining to win the game.
The Bengals’ Terrell Owens is fourth in the league with 71 receptions and fifth among wide receivers in touchdowns with nine. He needs 39 yards to become the third player in NFL history with 10 1,000-yard seasons. Hall of Famer Jerry Rice (14) and Randy Moss (10) are the others.
The Steelers’ Rashard Mendenhall is eighth in rushing with 1,007 yards and tied for fifth among running backs with nine touchdowns. He had 99 yards and a score against the Bengals in Week 9.
The Steelers signed punter Jeremy Kapinos to replace Daniel Sepulveda, who is out for the season with a knee injury suffered during the Ravens game.